Middlesbrough dealt fresh injury blow after training ground setback

MIDDLESBROUGH have been dealt a fresh injury blow, with Alex Gilbert twisting his knee in training this week and Michael Carrick still awaiting the results of scans.

Gilbert was missing from the squad for Saturday's defeat at Sunderland, with Law McCabe replacing the forward on the bench.

Rav van den Berg and Jonny Howson were also again absent, with Carrick hoping the duo step up their recovery this week but not able to offer any promises as things stand on when they'll return.

The likes of Marcus Forss, Dael Fry, Darragh Lenihan and Tommy Smith are all "further away", though Forss is back in training.

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Boro will discover the severity of Gilbert's injury in the coming days.

Carrick said: "He twisted his knee in training on Wednesday. On Thursday we had tests. We're still working on that to see how he is."

“Hopefully Rav and Jonny will be back in and around training this week a little bit more than they have done so far.

"They’ve both been back on the grass in different ways. The others are all further away.”

Riley McGree was again an unused substitute for Boro at Sunderland having returned to the squad for last weekend's draw with Preston, with Carrick reluctant to rush the Australian international back into action.

Carrick said: "He's close. He's working his way back to fitness so we're making sure he stays fit."